Options Choice Process and Admission Requirements(4)

We are academically selective as we wish to ensure students are not only suitable for the IBDP, but will flourish and enjoy success throughout the programme (Please see below for basic requirements.) While selective, as a College we support all students as individuals and believe the IBDP enables students with different abilities and talents to achieve success and show their true potential. We review an applicant’s suitability for the IBDP and College by looking at their work ethic and enjoyment of learning, passion and drive to succeed, ability to listen and collaborate, and willingness and enthusiasm to contribute to College life.

Please contact admissions if you have any further questions regarding the full admissions process for students, as they will be able to give you comprehensive timelines. Below is information regarding the support and timeline for ensuring students new to the College choose their options carefully and correctly to ensure success through the IB Diploma Programme.

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The following process gives guidance, although it will depend on the time of application and the specific context of each student:

• Meeting with Assistant Head of Upper Senior School / IB Diploma Coordinator to ascertain suitability
• Collection of mid term, end of semester or mock examinations for (I)GCSE -  we will wait until January or when you have these and can share the results with admissions
• IB Diploma Coordinator will be in contact to arrange either a face-to-face or Skype interview with your son/daughter to discuss the options available,  future ambitions and how these match with their academic ability. Initial wish list (see below table), if not filled in previously, will be shared with IB Diploma Coordinator
• Contact with university counselor if questions are raised regarding different country requirements for the IB Diploma Programme according to specific subjects
• Agreement of options and conditional offer for options will be sent by first week in April
• Results from (I)GCSEs /transcripts from last school term sent by August  or as soon as received, discussion with IB Diploma Coordinator if conditional offer not met
• IB Diploma and Michaelmas Term starts usually at the end of August.

Subjects Supported (2020-21)

Note the blocking of subjects according to the schedule is slightly different and shown underneath.

Blocking as of February 2020

Important guidance on the blocking process and combinations /subjects supported.

• The blocking above is provisional due to two initial surveys based on student’s requirements. It may change as we go through the options process to ensure that we maximise student’s options choices (For example, we may offer Chemistry / Physics in Block 4 and 6 if requested.) IMPORTANT - However, we cannot guarantee all combinations of choices.
• In Block 6 you can choose one of the Arts or choose and write in another choice / elective from Groups 2, 3 or 4. Most often students choose a second Humanities or a second Science. We expect students to choose an Arts subject unless they have a good reason why in terms of their career pathway.
• Remember basic requirement for students to take courses are – receive a B or above (6+) for SL subject, and A or above (7+) for HL subject.
• Please do speak with the IB Diploma Coordinator if you are considering a second Language and Literature A language rather than a Language Acquisition. We are keen to facilitate and support this, as we have done with our first cohort in arranging Japanese Literature A as an option. The courses will be tutored however and so will often incur additional costs for parents.
• The new Mathematics courses will as such have four options – (MAI) is a practical course of Mathematics for students who like to do and involves a larger statistical element. SL (MAI) is for students not wishing to take Mathematics based subjects further at University. HL (MAI) is for students who may wish to take a course such as Economics that has a larger mathematical element. SL and HL (MAA) are for those students who like more abstract Mathematics and proof. HL (MAA) is for those looking to do Economics, Mathematics, Engineering at University although SL may be suitable in certain cases. Students choosing HL will be expected to have taken Add Mathematics (I)GCSE)
• Option Choices and suitability for University placements is very much dependent on country, type and prestige or University. The only way to navigate this is to ensure that the research is undertaken to look at sample courses, universities and countries. In general, the following can be said –
  • US Universities are much more open in terms of option / subject choice and enjoy seeing a variety of subjects which so rigour – but rarely have specific pre-requisites.
  • UK Universities are very specific and will often say which 3 HL courses are required e.g.
    • Medicine – usually Biology and Chemistry at HL
    • Physics/ Engineering – usually Maths (MAA) and Physics at HL
  • Other countries and universities will have their own requirements often Netherlands and Australia for example will just have an overall point score pre-requisite. However, RESEARCH IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT! More direction is available on out IB Diploma Option Firefly pages.
• NOTE we are looking to run Environmental Systems and Societies as an interdisciplinary Group 3 subject (Science and I&S) so that you may choose Theatre Arts as a second Arts subject in Group 4, combined with whichever Arts you would like to choose in Group 6. Please understand there is no other way to do two Arts options.
• There are certain combinations we do not recommend students choose as it reduces breadth of subjects taken and so can be considered poorly by Universities. We will however consider requests and may in specific situations reconsider this. These combinations include: -
  • Geography and Environmental Systems & Societies
  • Biology and Environmental Systems & Societies
  • Business Studies and Economics

At Dulwich College (Singapore), we believe that where possible, students should take a broad and balanced programme by selecting one subject from each group. We actively encourage students to ensure that the subjects they select are appropriate for university entrance, will maximise their potential and provide satisfaction and enjoyment. Students who are selecting a second science or humanities course as an elective in Group 6, must provide reasons for selecting the course, for example, “I plan to take Engineering at Imperial University and to apply I must study mathematics HL, physics HL and chemistry HL."

Basic Admission Requirements

Students should have achieved at least 6 A*- B (or 9 - 6 in new grading system) grades in (I)GCSE examinations or equivalent, with a good match between their results in individual subjects and their intended IB subject choices. We would expect students to have achieved A*- A ( 9 - 7) grades or equivalent in their three Higher Level equivalent subjects (noting for Mathematics the level of Maths taken is also important.) For Standard level subjects we would expect students to have achieved a B (9 - 6) or above or equivalent.

We also expect through school reports,references and interview the following :-

• Excellent Effort exhibited at previous schools
• Positive Behaviour and Attitude exhibited at previous schools
• Attendance at previous school to be exemplary
• Involvement in Co-curricular Experiences exhibited at previous schools

Equivalency to (I)GCSE Grades for Admission

We accept students from all educational backgrounds so do please speak to us regarding specific admission requirements :- 

Singapore 'O' Levels

IGCSE / GCSE Grades A* to C is comparable to GCE 'O' levels Grades 1 to 6 and IGCSE / GCSE Grade D is comparable to GCE 'O' Grade 7. And so we would compare an A* to a 1, an A to a 2, a B to a 3/4.

MYP Grades

We would compare a 7 with a grade A* at IGCSE and, 6 to an A and 5 to a B.

American High School Transcript Grades

US and International American High School transcript grades and not standardised, so equivalency will be based on reports alongside the reputation of the school. Please see Mr. Perkins for further information.

Subject Curriculum Descriptions

Please go to the subject briefs page, which has the curriculum outline for each subject in detail. Any further questions please do not hesitate to contact the IB Diploma Coordinator.

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The IB a Better Preparation for Life - Telegraph 2014